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How can I； imperceptibly； have changed； I wonder！ Well； that’s
very odd！ I must study to regain my former self。’
‘I wish you would；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth； with a smile。
‘Oh！ I really will； you know！’ she answered。 ‘I will learn
frankness from—let me see—from James。’
‘You cannot learn frankness； Rosa；’ said Mrs。 Steerforth
quickly—for there was always some effect of sarcasm in what Rosa
Dartle said； though it was said； as this was； in the most
unconscious manner in the world—‘in a better school。’
‘That I am sure of；’ she answered； with uncommon fervour。 ‘If I
am sure of anything； of course； you know； I am sure of that。’
Mrs。 Steerforth appeared to me to regret having been a little
nettled； for she presently said； in a kind tone：
‘Well； my dear Rosa； we have not heard what it is that you want
to be satisfied about？’
‘That I want to be satisfied about？’ she replied； with provoking
coldness。 ‘Oh！ It was only whether people； who are like each other
in their moral constitution—is that the phrase？’
‘It’s as good a phrase as another；’ said Steerforth。
‘Thank you：—whether people； who are like each other in their
moral constitution； are in greater danger than people not so
circumstanced； supposing any serious cause of variance to arise
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
between them； of being divided angrily and deeply？’
‘I should say yes；’ said Steerforth。
‘Should you？’ she retorted。 ‘Dear me！ Supposing then； for
instance—any unlikely thing will do for a supposition—that you
and your mother were to have a serious quarrel。’
‘My dear Rosa；’ interposed Mrs。 Steerforth； laughing goodnaturedly； ‘suggest some other supposition！ James and I know our
duty to each other better； I pray Heaven！’
‘Oh！’ said Miss Dartle； nodding her head thoughtfully。 ‘To be
sure。 That would prevent it？ Why； of course it would。 Exactly。
Now； I am glad I have been so foolish as to put the case； for it is so
very good to know that your duty to each other would prevent it！
Thank you very much。’
One other little circumstance connected with Miss Dartle I
must not omit； for I had reason to remember it thereafter； when all
the irremediable past was rendered plain。 During the whole of this
day； but especially from this period of it； Steerforth exerted
himself with his utmost skill； and that was with his utmost ease； to
charm this singular creature into a pleasant and pleased
companion。 That he should succeed； was no matter of surprise to
me。 That she should struggle against the fascinating influence of
his delightful art—delightful nature I thought it then—did not
surprise me either； for I knew that she was sometimes jaundiced
and perverse。 I saw her features and her manner slowly change； I
saw her look at him with growing admiration； I saw her try； more
and more faintly； but always angrily； as if she condemned a
weakness in herself； to resist the captivating power that he
possessed； and finally； I saw her sharp glance soften； and her smile
become quite gentle； and I ceased to be afraid of her as I had really
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
been all day； and we all sat about the fire； talking and laughing
together； with as little reserve as if we had been children。
Whether it was because we had sat there so long； or because
Steerforth was resolved not to lose the advantage he had gained； I
do not know； but we did not remain in the dining…room more than
five minutes after her departure。 ‘She is playing her harp；’ said
Steerforth； softly； at the drawing…room door； ‘and nobody but my
mother has heard her do that； I believe； these three years。’ He said
it with a curious smile； which was gone directly； and we went into
the room and found her alone。
‘Don’t get up；’ said Steerforth （which she had already done）’ my
dear Rosa； don’t！ Be kind for once； and sing us an Irish song。’
‘What do you care for an Irish song？’ she returned。
‘Much！’ said Steerforth。 ‘Much more than for any other。 Here is
Daisy； too； loves music from his soul。 Sing us an Irish song； Rosa！
and let me sit and listen as I used to do。’
He did not touch her； or the chair from which she had risen； but
sat himself near the harp。 She stood beside it for some little while；
in a curious way； going through the motion of playing it with her
right hand； but not sounding it。 At length she sat down； and drew
it to her with one sudden action； and played and sang。
I don’t know what it was； in her touch or voice； that made that
song the most unearthly I have ever heard in my life； or can
imagine。 There was something fearful in the reality of it。 It was as
if it had never been written； or set to music； but sprung out of
passion within her； which found imperfect utterance in the low
sounds of her voice； and crouched again when all was still。 I was
dumb when she leaned beside the harp again； playing it； but not
sounding it； with her right hand。
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
A minute more； and this had roused me from my trance：—
Steerforth had left his seat； and gone to her； and had put his arm
laughingly about her； and had said； ‘Come； Rosa； for the future we
will love each other very much！’ And she had struck him； and had
thrown him off with the fury of a wild cat； and had burst out of the
room。
‘What is the matter with Rosa？’ said Mrs。 Steerforth； coming in。
‘She has been an angel； mother；’ returned Steerforth； ‘for a
little while； and has run into the opposite extreme； since； by way of
compensation。’
‘You should be careful not to irritate her； James。 Her temper
has been soured； remember； and ought not to be tried。’
Rosa did not come back； and no other mention was made of
her； until I went with Steerforth into his room to say Good night。
Then he laughed about her； and asked me if I had ever seen such a
fierce little piece of incomprehensibility。
I expressed as much of my astonishment as was then capable of
expression； and asked if he could guess what it was that she had
taken so much amiss； so suddenly。
‘Oh； Heaven knows；’ said Steerforth。 ‘Anything you like—or
nothing！ I told you she took everything； herself included； to a
grindstone； and sharpened it。 She is an edge…tool； and requires
great care in dealing with。 She is always dangerous。 Good night！’
‘Good night！’ said I； ‘my dear Steerforth！ I shall be gone before
you wake in the morning。 Good night！’
He was unwilling to let me go； and stood； holding me out； with a
hand on each of my shoulders； as he had done in my own room。
‘Daisy；’ he said； with a smile—‘for though that’s not the name
your godfathers and godmothers gave you； it’s the name I like best
Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics
David Copperfield
to call you by—and I wish； I wish； I wish； you could give it to me！’
‘Why so I can； if I choose；’ said I。
‘Daisy； if anything should ever separate us； you must think of
me at my best； old boy。 Come